CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Four games into the season, Penn State center Stefen Wisniewski hopes he can snap out of his funk.

He has struggled when hiking the ball to quarterback Daryll Clark in the shotgun formation.

"The snap needs to be brought back a lot faster and up higher," Clark said.

Wisniewski, a 6-foot-3, 297-pound junior from Central Catholic High School, concedes he must make some major improvement in that area.

"I'm not terribly disappointed with [the snaps] because we're not having fumbles, and that's kind of the most important thing," he said. "[But] I do need to get a little bit more velocity on those.

"I think at this point the thing holding me back from that is the fear of having a really bad one, snapping it over his head or something, which is certainly a lot worse than having a slow one go back there."

Despite Wisniewski's problem, coach Joe Paterno has not considered using backup Doug Klopacz in shotgun situations.

"I don't think we have anybody better than Wisniewski," Paterno said. "I think he'll get better as he goes along. That's a tough job to move from guard to center, particularly when you are using the shotgun. He's gotten better all the time."

Wisniewski said the move from right guard to center has not been an easy one.

"Yeah, I think it is a little harder than I expected," he said. "Snapping the ball is actually a lot harder than I thought it would be, snapping it and trying to block real quick."

With Penn State's revamped offensive line struggling to pass block and open holes for the running game, Paterno has been harping on Wisniewski to become a stronger leader.

"He's been mostly on me about leading the offensive line," Wisniewski said. "I mean, some of the things I've been trying to do ... being more vocal, but also not necessarily being loud in front of everybody, but talking to one guy about things he could be doing better.

"With the guards, especially. I played guard last year and I know how to play guard. I know ways to help those guys."

Wisniewski likely will be joined by another new starter on the offensive line today when Penn State (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten) and Illinois (1-2, 0-1) meet at Memorial Stadium.

Nerraw McCormack is expected to get the nod at right tackle, replacing DeOn'tae Pannell. Johnnie Troutman took over for Matt Stankiewitch at left guard three weeks ago. The only linemen to start every game are Wisniewski, left tackle Dennis Landolt and right guard Lou Eliades.

"As far as handling the changes, I think we're doing pretty well," Wisniewski said. "As far as myself, I still have a lot more learning to do as far as the center position. And I still have a lot more things I need to improve on."

Asked if he preferred playing guard or center, he said: "They are similar. Both places you get to hit people, so I like them both."

For the third time in the past five years, the Nittany Lions will be facing Illinois on the road the week after suffering their first loss of the season.

In 2005, the Lions won, 63-10, and finished 11-1 en route to an Orange Bowl victory against Florida State. Two years ago, the Illini eked out a 27-20 victory, and Penn State ended up 9-4 after defeating Texas A&M in the Alamo Bowl.

"I would hope that we're going to be more like the 2005 team," said injured outside linebacker Sean Lee from Upper St. Clair, who will miss his second consecutive game with a sprained left knee. "You know, battle back after a loss. That team had a ton of great character. And I think we have a lot of good character on this team.

"I'd be surprised if we didn't come out ... playing well and going hard because we're excited."

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